Buceros montani Oustalet, Bull. Hebd. Assoc. Scien. Fr. (1880),
205.
Anthracoceros montani Grant, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus. (1892), 17,
370; Sharpe, Hand-List (1900), 2, 64; McGregor and Worcester,
Hand-List (1906), 55.
Sulu (Montano & Rey, Bourns & Worcester); Tawi Tawi (Bourns &
Worcester).
Adult (sexes alike).--Tail white; remainder of plumage black; back
and wings slightly glossed with green. A female measures: Wing, 290;
tail, 260; bill from nostril, 101; tarsus, 52. This species has been
described as having the tail entirely white but in a female specimen
collected in Tawi Tawi, November 2, 1891, by Bourns and Worcester, two
rectrices on one side have the outer web black for about three-fourths
of the distance from base to tip and one feather on the other side of
the tail has the outer web black to a less extent; the inner webs,
also, are black for a short distance on two of these feathers. More
specimens are necessary to determine whether this is an individual
variation or a normal character, perhaps dependent upon age, which
has been previously overlooked.
"We were fortunate enough to secure a series of fourteen specimens of
this rare hornbill from Sulu and Tawi Tawi. The tail is pure white;
all other parts black, the feathers of the back and wings glossed
with dark green. The bill in adult birds is coal-black; all of our
adult males had the iris nearly white, while in the adult females it
was dark brown; legs and feet dull leaden, nails black. Young birds
have the tip of the bill white or pale horn.
"Common on the hills back of the town of Sulu, and very abundant
in Tawi Tawi where it occurs in great flocks, but very wild and
extremely difficult to approach. The cry of this bird is the most
peculiar bird-note we have ever heard. It begins with a series of notes
precisely like the 'song' of a common hen magnified about fifty-fold,
and ends with an indescribable combination of cackles and shrieks.
"Two males from Tawi Tawi measure, 717 in length; wing, 293; tail,
243; tarsus, 52; middle toe with claw, 59. Six females from same
locality measure: Length, 672; wing, 268; tail, 224; tarsus, 51;
middle toe with claw, 55. A male and two females from Sulu are
slightly smaller. Eyes vary from nearly white to nearly black, the
females usually having the darker eyes; bare skin of head black;
bill black. Food fruit." (Bourns and Worcester MS.)
Genus GYMNOLÆMUS Grant, 1892.
Casque large, compressed, and fairly smooth, its top rounded, outline
gently curved, overhanging behind and abruptly truncated in front;
no chiseling on sides of bill; chin, upper throat, and large space
around eye entirely nude.